Book description
How would first contact--on earth, in space, on another planet--transform our understandings of technology, philosophy, and what it means to be human? What kind of cognitive dissonance would society experience, if we discovered a previously unrecognized sentience on Earth? What would life be like if it originated in a frigid ocean beneath an impenetrable shell of ice? Or on a world whose haze obscures any view of the universe beyond? Or on an unfathomable scale in the depths of space? Or . . .Life--beyond us.Dive in as the European Astrobiology Institute presents fifty-four original SF Stories and Science Essays on life, from microbial to macro, from automatic to sagacious. Each speculative story is followed by a professional essay illuminating the scientific underpinnings of the story and providing a new window into the cutting-edge knowledge about exploration for life in the universe.SF STORIES BY: Eugen Bacon, Gregory Benford, Renan Bernardo, Jana Bianchi, Tobias S. Buckell, Eric Choi, Julie E. Czerneda, Tessa Fisher, Simone Heller, Valentin D. Ivanov, Mary Robinette Kowal, Lisa Jenny Krieg (translated by Simone Heller), Geoffrey A. Landis, Rich Larson, Liu Yang (translated by Ladon Gao), Lucie Lukačovičová, Premee Mohamed, G. David Nordley, Malka Older, Deji Bryce Olukotun, Tomás Petrásek, Brian Rappatta, Arula Ratnakar, D.A. Xiaolin Spires, Bogi Takács, Peter Watts, and B. Zelkovich.SCIENCE ESSAYS BY: Jacques Arnould, William Bains, José A. Caballero, Dimitra Demertzi, Martina Dimoska, Tessa Fisher, Dennis Höning, Valentin D. Ivanov, Fabian Klenner, Nina Kopacz, Geoffrey A. Landis, Natuschka Lee, Ania Losiak, Stephen Francis Mann, Connor Martini, Tony Milligan, Philippe Nauny, Julie Nováková, Erik Persson, Tomás Petrásek, Joanna Piotrowska, Giovanni Poggiali, Amedeo Romagnolo, Stefano Sandrelli, Floris van der Tak, Jan Toman, Sheri Wells-Jensen, and Raymond M. WheelerINTRODUCTION BY: Stephen BaxterFOREWORD BY: Julie NovákováAFTERWORDS BY: Wolf D. Geppert; Lucas K. Law & Susan ForestEDITED BY: Julie Nováková, Lucas K. Law & Susan ForestPrevious anthologies by Laksa Media (Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Where the Stars Rise, Shades Within Us, Seasons Between Us) have been recommended by Publishers Weekly, Booklist (American Library Association), Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews, and Quill & Quire.
Virgo Moon
The app's reliability and ease of use make it a true gem in the world of audiobooks. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. ListenBook has transformed my daily rituals into cherished opportunities for personal growth. No need to convert files anymore – ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Whip 2T
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. 🌟 This app is a game-changer – its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. 🎉🎧 Looping playback and shuffle features keep my audiobook sessions engaging and fresh. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Infinite Hole
The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits – so cool! 👩🍳 Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales – cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! 🍳🎧 🌌 Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. 🎧✨ ListenBook's Pro version is worth every penny. The noise reduction feature makes even noisy environments an ideal place for immersive listening.
ButterQuest
I've never been this excited about my daily commute – thank you, audiobooks! I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. ListenBook has become my gateway to new worlds, allowing me to explore stories, ideas, and knowledge. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Tokyo Dream
ListenBook has transformed my mundane activities into enjoyable moments of learning and entertainment. 📱 Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's ease of use is a booklover's dream come true! 📚🔥 Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality.
Icy Avenger
The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly.
Guncap Slingbad
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. I used to struggle to find time for books – now, I listen while doing chores! As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Low Menace
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. ListenBook's innovative features, from audio filters to statistics, make it a standout app. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Sidewalk Enforcer
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch has made my listening experience even more seamless. This app has transformed my daily walks into insightful journeys of knowledge – talk about efficiency! I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. 🌌🎧 Supports all audio formats I use without issues. Very happy.
Star Jammer
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. 💃 Dancing through chores with audiobooks – this app turns cleaning into a lively and literary affair! 🎶📚 Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's design focuses on seamless interaction.
Black Fantastic
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ByteBard
🎉 An app that turns house chores into exciting adventures – count me in! 🧹📖 ListenBook’s support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is fantastic. I can listen anywhere.
Lucky Aurora
This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. The app's performance is nothing short of impressive – smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Loot
My study sessions are more efficient than ever, thanks to the looping playback and bookmark features. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best!
Subzero Taffy
🎙️ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency – I'm enjoying audiobooks without missing a beat in my day. 🎶📚 Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient.
Black Firefly
I'm impressed by ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically. 🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is impressive. Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate customized listening sessions, whether for study, relaxation, or entertainment.
Lady Killer
No more carrying heavy books – this app has transformed my reading habits. ⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 I can't get over how smooth the playback is. Even high-quality files play flawlessly. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Athena Star
The app's stability is impressive – it runs smoothly without any glitches. ListenBook's library organization and Book Groups feature make it easy to keep my audiobooks organized and accessible. 🏝️ Basking in the sun with an audiobook – relaxation meets storytelling paradise! ☀️📖 No need to convert files anymore – ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! ListenBook's commitment to a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls is evident in every aspect of the app.
Trouble Mittens
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats.
Metal Lady
As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure! The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. This audiobook was neither good nor bad - simply average. The narrator's delivery was professional but uninspired, and the recording quality was clean though not exceptional. It provided satisfactory entertainment without standing out from similar titles.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience